Net Control Operator Guidelines

KARS Net Guidelines

Net Control Operator Guidelines

First …If you are a new member and you are asked to run the Net, accept the challenge. If you think that you can do it on your own after reading through these guidelines, then you are good to go. If not, ask for some one-on-one coaching. There are people in this club who are willing to meet with you and go over the “How to Stuff”. You may want to have an experienced operator sitting next to you the first time through. Being a competent Net Control Operator and being able to run a net is part of the fun of having the license. This club, having the license, learning new skills, being of service and having fun are the reasons that we have an FCC license.

Be prepared for the Net. Ten or fifteen minutes before the net. Go over the net script. Know what comes next on the script. Think about how you will run things and handle situations. Run through the script a couple of times, even if you have done it before. You will be more relaxed and confident if you prepare for the net ten or fifteen minutes before the net is scheduled to begin.

Have a pad of paper, or a note book, to record the stations checking in. Number the first page 1 through 20. As stations check in record the call sign and the operator’s name. You are doing this so that you will be able to acknowledge the stations by call sign and by name. At the end of the net you will also know how many stations have checked in just by glancing down at your numbered pad. You will not need to pause and count the stations. On the second page create a place for your notes pertinent to the net.

Five minutes before the Net announce that the Katy Amateur Radio Society Net will begin in five minutes. Often, a listening station will call and tell you that you are loud and clear.

The Katy Amateur Radio Society Net is a fairly informal Net. However, the habits formed on informal nets will become the procedures that operators use in actual Amateur Radio support situations. We want the Net to flow smoothly. We want operators to feel comfortable running the Net and most importantly we want all of the participants to have a positive experience, and learn.

If you are new at this and feel like you are getting confused, or flustered, key your mike and simply say, “all stations this is Net Control, please stand-by one”. Take a couple of deep breaths, think about it (what ever “it” is) and if necessary call on of the more experienced stations on frequency to answer the question, or offer some assistance. Then go back to running the net.

A.It is only necessary to transmit your call sign every ten minutes, and at the end of the final transmission. Often new operators over identify because they do not want to make a mistake. It is neither necessary, nor is it desirable for the NCS to transmit, “please call net control now”, or “please call ______(your call sign) at the end of transmissions. The use of the phrase, “come now please” is not desired or recommended. That phrase does not exist in any civil, military or Amateur Radio communications publication. Although, you will hear these procedures on other Nets, our goal in KARS is for all members to become professionals in Amateur Radio, become examples of proper operating techniques, give service to the club and to the community, and have more fun doing that.

B. Relax. If you make a mistake, that is O.K. This is supposed to be a learning experience for new operators and old operators alike. Amateur Radio is about learning, serving and having an enjoyable and positive experience in the process.

Katy Amateur Radio Society NET

QST, QST, QST. Good evening all listening stations and welcome to the Katy Amateur Radio Society weekly net.

My name is ______my personal call sign is ______. For the required FCC identification I will be using the club call sign KT5TX during this net. My tactical call sign is NET CONTROL. I am located in ______. This net is held each Monday evening at 1930(Nineteen thirty) hours local time. Visitors are welcome. Please feel free to check in.

Our next club meeting will be Monday ______(second Monday of each month) at West I-10 Fire Station #4 on Franz Road near Grand Parkway beginning at 1930 hours, we also meet every Saturday morning around 0800 hours at Alcaliente for breakfast. Join us for some great conversation and good fellowship. Alcalienteis located at 20210 Katy Fwy on the north side feeder road at Fry Road & I-10 near the Home Depot. Visitors are invited and encouraged to join us for breakfast.

This repeater operates on an output frequency of 147.200 MHz. The input frequency is up 600 KHz. The repeater PL tone is 141.3 Hz.

This is a directed net. Please transmit only as directed by the net control station. When checking in please speak clearly and slowly. Please transmit your call sign, your name and whether or not you have any traffic, or comments for the net.

If at any time during this net any station experiences an emergency situation that station should immediately break into the net with the word “Emergency”, or “Emergency” followed by their call sign.

Are there any mobile stations or stations short on time that cannot remain on frequency until the end of role call? Over

1. Take the call signs of stations short on time and acknowledge them. These are stations asking for an “IN and OUT” and might not remain on the net.

Are there any stations with general announcements for the net? Over

1. Acknowledge the station(s) with announcements for the net and direct them to make their announcements.

2. Following the announcements ask if there are any stations with questions, or stations that require “fill in” information.

I will now call for all other stations wishing to check into this evening’s net. Please speak clearly and slowly. Transmit your call sign, name and if you have any comments or announcements for the net. Over

1. Add these stations to the list of stations checking in and acknowledge them after every three or four stations have checked in.

2. After it appears that all stations on the net have checked in go back to the top of the list and call each station and give them a chance to address the net (Ask them the question of the week).

3. Be sure to acknowledge any visitors. Invite them to the Luby’s breakfast and to our meeting on the second Monday.

Are there any stations that have not checked in to this evening’s net? Over

Are there any visiting stations that wish to check in to this evening’s net? Over

Are there any final comments or announcements for the Net? Over

This is KT5TX, Net Control for this evening’s Katy Amateur Radio Society Net.

There were ______stations participating in the net this evening. There were ______members and ______visitors.

1. Acknowledge the visitor stations and invite them to check-in next week and invite them to Alclaiente’s for breakfast Saturday morning at 0800.

Thank you very much for checking into the net this evening. This is ______(your name), ______(your personal call sign) returning the repeater to normal use. ______(your personal call sign). Out.